Lin Yu's consciousness gradually stirred in the darkness. Blurred memories flooded back like a tide. The girl who had once worn a radiant smile now lay on the hospital bed, having lost both her legs and her right arm. Her once jet-black, lustrous hair had all fallen out due to the 侵蚀 of the demonic poison, leaving behind only a frail yet still bright smile, solely aimed at comforting her relatives and him by her side.
"What on earth is life? And where exactly lies the supreme Dao that we pursue in the cultivation of immortality?" Lin Yu's heart cried out in pain. The girl who had been full of life just a moment ago had, in the blink of an eye, turned into a handful of ashes in a ceramic urn. At that moment, Lin Yu's heart shattered completely, and the world in his eyes was reduced to nothing but black and white.
Su Wanqing's passing led Lin Yu to resolutely leave Xuanxiao Valley, that place filled with legends of immortal cultivation. It wasn't that the young Lin Yu already understood the heartbreak of love. Instead, Wanqing's death caused his belief in seeking the Dao of immortality to crumble completely. In this era of scarce spiritual energy, the path of cultivation was long and arduous. Even if one spent their entire life on it, there was no guarantee of achieving their wish. Since death was inevitable either way, why not enjoy the beauty of this colorful world while one could?
From then on, Lin Yu, with his exceptional intelligence and decisiveness, maneuvered skillfully in the business world, amassing wealth frantically. He sank into the debauchery of the nightlife, 周旋于 one woman after another, using physical pleasure to fill the emptiness in his heart. The cultivation techniques that he had once practiced so diligently had long been cast aside, and his cultivation at the third level of the Clarity of Breath stage was nothing but an empty shell. Ecstasy, soft narcotics, and even more lethal drugs gradually eroded his body and mind.
"Wanqing, it turns out that I didn't love you as much as I thought. Your death just shattered my perseverance in immortal cultivation. The heartache at that moment made me mistakenly believe that I loved you deeply," Lin Yu laughed bitterly, his laughter filled with boundless desolation. "Burning incense and seeking the Dao, begging for the path to immortality. We are all heartless people in this pursuit."
Suddenly, a violent cough jolted Lin Yu back from his memories. He forcefully spat out a mouthful of dark, black blood. As the inner demons of his past gradually became clearer, he slowly opened his eyes. What came into view was a plump and nervous face, with beads of sweat constantly rolling down, almost touching his face.
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"Fatty Zhang, what do you want?" Lin Yu instantly widened his eyes and asked coldly. The fat man in front of him was Zhang Chao, a senior supervisor in his company. Although he didn't possess much real talent or learning, he was quite skilled at flattering others and building relationships.
Zhang Chao was so startled by this sudden shout that he shuddered, and his body involuntarily retreated, almost causing him to fall on his buttocks. "B, boss, you're awake?" he stammered, his voice tinged with a hint of surprise and nervousness.
Lin Yu ignored Zhang Chao and, enduring the dizziness, began to look around. This wasn't Su Yao's home but the underground garage of a skyscraper near Su Yao's house. It was dim and damp all around, filled with a putrid smell. Lin Yu tried to move his right arm and found that it was only simply wrapped with a few turns of bandages. It had no sensation at all, as if it wasn't part of his own body.
"My injury is already starting to heal on its own. It seems I've been unconscious for quite some time. But I wasn't sent to the hospital. This disaster not only came suddenly, but its destructive power is probably beyond imagination. The whole of Binhai City is likely to be paralyzed," Lin Yu analyzed calmly.
"Boss, you've been unconscious for a full two days. This disaster is far more terrifying than we imagined. Meteorites, hurricanes, earthquakes - all kinds of disasters have come one after another. Binhai City is like the end of the world," Zhang Chao replied with a 苦瓜 face.
"So, you were planning to eat me?" Lin Yu slowly stood up, his gaze as sharp as a torch, and a chilling killing intent emanated from his eyes. "Two days of bloodshed, disaster, and hunger are enough to make people lose their last bit of moral bottom line. You dragged me to this basement. You surely didn't do it to save me. If I hadn't woken up in time, you would have already taken a bite."
"No, boss, I definitely didn't have that in mind! Even if I were to die, I wouldn't harm you in the slightest!" Zhang Chao retorted almost roaringly, his voice carrying a hint of grievance and anger.
Lin Yu sneered, unmoved. In his opinion, human nature was most likely to be exposed in extreme situations, and he was more ruthless and decisive than most people.
"Boss, I truly love you! From the moment you came to Binhai City, I've been following you. I've watched you build the company from scratch and grow it into a large enterprise. Every one of your actions has deeply fascinated me. Despite my appearance, I actually have a delicate heart," Zhang Chao became more and more excited as he spoke. Suddenly, he knelt on the ground, his face streaming with tears. "I'm willing to give everything for you. Even if I have to cut off my own flesh to feed you, I won't harm you!"
Lin Yu was stunned. He had never expected Zhang Chao to say such a thing at this moment. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.
